Contemplating rural beauty

AWILDLIFE-FRIENDLY contemplation garden has helped St Giles’ Church in Great Coxwell to an Eco-Church Bronze Award from A Rocha UK. n For more details, log on to oxford.anglican.org

The garden, set in a field next to the church, was originally created in 2012 as a Remembrance garden, but in 2021 it was re-designed and developed. The space has been managed by a dedicated committee and local volunteers who have erected new fencing, hedges and seating.

“All the planting has to be native and wildlife friendly,” says the Revd Maureen Turner, Vicar of St Giles.

Bats, hedgehogs, deer, butterflies and birds have been attracted to the space and the congregation have planted trees including a Bird Cherry tree to mark the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The garden now supports more than 200 species.

A pathway around the garden invites visitors to sit and reflect on seven prayer markers which include suggestions to contemplate ‘Joy’ ‘Tranquility’ and ‘Memories’.

“The garden appeals to those of all faiths and none,” says Maureen. “We aim to show that the church is open and there for everyone.

“The garden is an important part of that. It raises awareness that we all need to be looking after the planet and we can look after our little corner.

“We hope to keep adding to it and improving it and that it will be there for years to come,” she says.

The Diocese of Oxford has created a new Environment Resource pack for parishes, which includes a dedicated churchyard nature hunt download for families and young people to use in their local churchyard.

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Who will own the homes?

Who are these properties for?

Foreign bodies and perhaps a few British who hold them empty as a long-term Investment. Then who will eventually occupy them?

These highly priced dwellings are not for the sons and daughters of Reading families or indeed for those in need of social housing in Reading. No these are for Londoners with their London salaries who find Reading with its excellent train service a very attractive proposition.

Reading Borough Council will point to the Government’s misguided demand for houses to be built in places which run counter to the principles of town planning. F uture generations will have to live with today’s foolishness but sadly those who make bad decisions today will not be alive to see the results of their actions.

Douglas

Wright, Caversham

Some good news

Reading born Josh Waller recently represented Great Britain in the Ice Hockey World Championship qualifying round in Nottingham and was part of Team GBs gold medal and promotion winning team.

23-year-old Josh spent most of his youth career at the sadly lost John Nike Centre in Bracknell but now turns out for Cardiff Devils.

He appeared in all five games in the tournament, against